Refrigerated dispenser



J. c. REAR: 2314,6152 REFR' IGERAIIZED DISPENSER Filed Deer. 10' I940 65Shee t s-Sheet l \l )L I J INVENTOR 7 v ATT EY Jam 25 6 fear" March 23, 1943-.

J. g2. REAR' REFRIGERATED DISPENSER Filed Dec 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ./0/7765 6 Fear ATTORNEY rch 23, 1943. J. c. R EAR 2,314,632

\ REFRIGERATED DISPENSER- I Filed Dec. 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IAL I I & Fl;

INVENTOR James Cfizar March 23, 1943- ,-c R 2,314,632

' I REFRIG'ERATED DISPENSER Filed D60. 10, 1940 T 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jame C. Fear March 23, 1943.

J. c. REAR 2,314,632

REFRIGERATED DI SFENSER Filed De c. 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR /C7/775 C. Fear" ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1943 REFRIGERATED DISPENSER James 0. Rear, Berkeley, Calif., assignor'to-The Union Ice Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 10, 1940, Serial No. 369,373

8 Claims.

My invention relates to means which are automatically effective upon energization by a user to dispense one unit of a commodity which is" kept under special conditionssuch as refrigeration.

The principal field for my invention is in the storage and dispensing of packaged material such as commodities which are maintained at subatmospheric temperatures, for example, frozen foods, ice cream or ice, particularly. ice in the form of ice cubes. Thesematerials are preferably packed incontainers which are liquid tight and which are of a standard size for dispensing. The invention contemplates depositing a plurality of such packages in a depot and releasing for a coin a single one of such packages for each actuation of the machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated dispenser which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, making it feasible to provide a structure of this nature at low cost.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated dispenser which can readily be serviced.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated dispenser which is mechanically substantially trouble free. Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerated dispenser which is not subject to tampering by an unauthorized person.

Another object of my invention is'to provide a refrigerated dispenser which automatically maintains itself in condition for dispensing until empty, whereupon it ceases to function.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a refrigerated dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of my dispenser, the

rear door being removed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the removable package containing unit or magazine of my dispenser.

Fig. 5 is a cross section the plane of which is indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section the plane of which is ing the appearance of the machine when it is empty.

Fig. 11 is an interior view of the package releasing mechanism with the cover of the coin mechanism compartment removed.

Fig. 12 is a cross section the plane of which is indicated by the line iZ-IZ in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical components of my refrigerated dispenser.

In its preferred form my dispenser comprises a generally insulated cabinet within which is located a mechanism for elevating a plurality of packages and projecting. a single package at a time through a discharge opening leading from the interior of the container to the exterior thereof, each operation of the structure being subject to energization by the introduction of a coin and being normally completed by-the passage of the package through the discharge structure, the possibility of further operation finally being precluded when the machine is empty.

In one commercial form of my refrigerateddispenser there is provided a suitable base 6 which preferably is not fastened down so that the machine is readily portable. On the base there is provided a cabinet l including the usual walls and cover preferably inclusive of a thermal insulating material 3 since the main compartment 9 of the structure is maintained at a fixed temperature different than atmospheric temperature. In order to maintain such interior temperature suitable refrigeration means is pro vided and includes heat transfer coils ll suitably arranged within the main compartment Q preferably along the side walls thereof. The heat exchange coils are part of a standard refrigeration circuit also part of which is a refrig eration mechanism, generally designated l3, driven by and responsive to the operation of an electric motor it. This refrigeration structure is conveniently located in a refrigeration compartment it at the rear of the cabinet 7 and accessible to authorized persons through a normally locked rear door ll. When opened, the door ll affords access to substantially all of the refrigeration regulating and driving structure as well as to the principal electrical controls and switches (shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13) which are installed within a separate interior housing Ill. The refrigeration mechanism I3 is effective automatically to maintain the desired temperature condition within the main compartment 9.

Normally located within the main compartment 9 is a frame or magazine 2| for the packages of commodity to be dispensed. Preferably exceptfor minor electrical connections which are readily disruptedif necessary, the magazine or frame 2! is a separate structure from the remainder of the cabinet 1 so that 2 frame and its contents can if' so desired, be installed or removed through the front door 22 of the cabinet. The front door is mounted on hinges 23 and is provided with a lock 24 so that only aut-horized persons can have access to the interior of the cabinet. The frame 2| is preferably constructed of a plurality of structural shapes such as angles and channels and generally rests on a pair of guide angles 25 afiixed to the interior floor of the main compartment 9. Running on the angles 25 are rollers 21 at the rear of the frame 2| so that while the frame when in position is frictionally retained by the forward ends of the channels 2| resting-upon the angles 28 and hence is quite stable, yet when an operator lifts the front of the frame 2| by means of a handle 28 a largepart of the weight is borne on the rollers 21 and the magazine or frame is readily wheeled into or out of the cabinet.

Included inthe framework 2| is a plurality of in order to regulate or establish the tension of uprights 3| joined by cross beams 32 and braced by tie plates 33 to provide a generally rectangular enclosure within which is disposed an. ale-'- vator platform 35. This platform is preferably comprised of a metallic sheet and is intended to receive a plurality of packages of the commodities to be dispensed. In order to reduce the interference between successive packages and to facilitate their ejection from the machine, the elevator platform 35 is not planar but throughout its length is progressively staggered or elevated atintervals corresponding to the length of each of the packages so that in effect a series of terraces is provided ascending from the front 'of the machine toward the back thereof so that packages being forced forwardly from the rear of the machine will gradually descend and will project over and ride over any upstanding projections of a minor character on packages ahead of and below them.

The elevator platform 35at appropriate points in its down turned side flanges is pierced by a pair of through rods 38 and 31, each of which at its opposite ends is provided with a hook strap 38 engaging an appropriate link in an adjacent one of several chains .39 arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of and spaced apart in the length of the general frame 2|. Thus, as the chains are advanced the elevator platform 33 is lifted and as the chains are retracted the elevator'platform is lowered. To guide the elevator platform and to relieve the chains of-any duty except that of support vertically,'t he rods 35 and 31 are confined to vertical translation by associated pairs of angles 4| and 42 which extend from the base channels of the frame 2| to the lowermost cross members 32. By this arrangement the elevator platform 33 is guided and appropriately confined for its rising and falling movement.

In order suitably to effectuate the operation of the elevator platform the chains 39 are all similarly trained around pairs of sprockets 43 and 44, the lower ones of which are mounted on stub shafts 45 secured in suitable bearing brackets 41 in the lower portions of the frame 2| whereas the upper ones are mounted on cross shafts 48 journaled in suitable bearings 49 supported on the associated one of a pair of floating beams 5| and 52 sustained from the uppermost cross. P beams 32 by adjustable tension bolts 53. By

suitably manipulating the adjusting bolts 53 the floating beams 5| and 52 are raised or lowered the chains 39.

In o'rder'that the chains 39 may be appropriately driven the shafts 48 are provided with large diameter sprockets 54. The sprockets 54 are connected by chains 55 to small sprockets 51 on end shafts 58 journaled on the floating beams 5| and 52. Also fastened on the end shafts 58 are pairs of sprockets 59 joined. by chains 5| so that all of the various connected instrumentalities are driven in unison.

In order to drive these various motion trains one of the end shafts 58 is also provided with a sprocket 52 connected by a chain 53 to a sprocket .54 driven by a gear reduction (not shown). This is located in a housing 85 mounted on the frame of an electric motor 51 supported on a each. These are arranged substantially as shown in Figure '1, since the terraced or stepped nature of th elevator platform persists throughout the entire load.

. In accordance with my invention one package at a time is projected fromthe load compartment by lateral or horizontal translation of the top tier of packages from the rearmost part of the structure toward the front.- The entire load is confined on the elevator platform 35 by a front pusher follows an orbit with the chains 6| so that adjacent the rear part of the machine the pusher 13 rounds the rearmost sprockets 58 and engages the rear package in the top tier adjacent the upper corner thereof. As the pusher 13 advances due to the movement of the chains 5| it presses the entire toptier toward the left in Figure"? or toward the front of the machine. a The packages in the upper tier slide over the packages in the next lowermost tier and are discharged from the load compartment over the forward wall 1| in succession. Because of the sliding movement of the tiers of packages it is preferable to make each package of parafilned or waxy material, although because of theterraced disposition thereof, such lubrication is not always needed. I

,In accordance with the invention and since the elevator platform 35 is driven from the same source as is the pusher", I preferably make the size of the sprockets which drive the shafts 48 and 58 such that the elevator platform 35 rises vertically through a distance substantially equal to the height of one package while the pusher 13 makes a complete-circuit, or such that the eleva= tor platform 35 rises through a distance equal forward sprocket to the rearward one. Thus, thepusher 13 advances the-topmost tier of packages as the elevator 95rises so that thereis some sliding movement of the pusher I3 vertically with respect to the package against which it abuts at the rearmost end of the row as the pusher advances, and the extent of this relative vertical sliding movement is about half the height of the package. The relationship between the .elevator platform 35 and the pusher I9 is of a continuous relative movement rather than intermittent motion, but in order that one package may be dispensed at a time, I provide means for energizing and deenergizing or enabling and disabling the motor 61 for just suflicient length of time to drive the pusher I3 forwardly through a horizontal distance equal to the length of one package so that but one package during that time is pushed ofl of the tier.

Since the original operation of the machine is preferably responsive to coin control, I preferably mount adjacent the top of the front door 22 a coin slot 9I which leads to a standard coin receiving mechanism 92 effective to retain acceptable coins, but which has a coin return 93 for rejecting unacceptable coins and depositing them in a pocket 94 where the user can recover them. An

acceptable coin received bythe standard coin mechanism 92 is eiIective to close momentarily a coin switch 96 (Figure 13), which by means of a relay 91, closes a circuit to the motor 61. Then, the motor begins its operation to advance the pusher I3,and lift the elevator platform 35. This action displaces the foremost package from the top tier on the elevator platform and projects it through a discharge opening, generally designated 98, provided in the insulated door 22.

I provide means for readily releasing the dispensed package from the machine, yet for preventing unauthorized access to the interior of the machine, and also for maintaining a measure of insulation between the interior" of the machine and the atmosphere. Such insulation preferably takes the form of an air trap or dead air chamber between the interior of the cabinet and the exterior. Mounted on the inside of the door at the entrance to the discharge opening 98 is a flap 99 provided with a hinged niounting IM and normally depending by gravity vertically across the opening to the discharge chamber. Also extending across the discharge opening 98, but normally ina horizontal position, is a flap I02 provided with a hinged mounting I03 adjacent the interior of the door 22 and having an extension appease I0l.normally underlying the lower end of the flap 99. Under the flap I02 in its normal position there is a receivingcompartment I06 partially defined byan inclined plate I01 and also defined by a lower receptacle wall I08 terminating in an upwardly inclined retaining lip I09 at the lower margin of a release opening III. Between the flaps 99 and I02 in the normal position which they occupy for most of the time. there is a chamber II2 which contains a body of quiescent or trapped air acting substantially as an insulator between the interior compartment 9 andthe outside air, thereby reducing materially thermal losses through the discharge aperture 98. Since the opening I I I is relatively large, a person might attempt to reach through it and attempt to depress the plate I02 into its dotted line posie tion (Figure 9), then to swing the flap 99 up wardly, thereby gaining access to the merchandise within the compartment 9. But this unauthorized access is prevented, since the extension I04 underlies the normally depending flap 99.

' Despite great force applied to the lower surface of the flap I02, it cannot be revolved from outside of the machine and hence unauthorized access through this opening cannot be had. But when the motor 91 operates and the foremost package in the toptier is advanced against the flap 99, it is swung from its lower dotted line position into its full line position as .shown in taining lip I09 so that the user can then extract it from the machine through the opening III. When the package has been removed from the position against it, the flap I02 is returned to its original position against a stop ledge "-3 by a spring Ill engaged with an arm II5 projecting from the flap I02 and likewise suitably attached to the inside of the door 22. Also, the flap 99 returns to its vertically depending positionby gravity as soon as the flap I02 has been restored sothat the interlocking arrangement is reestablished as soon as the dispensed package is removed by the user. Preferably the size of the aperture III is so close to that of the package that until the package is withdrawn from the -machine, no access can be had to the interior thereof and since the flap I02 is restored to position just prior to the final withdrawal of the package from the machine, it is not possible to gain access to the machine at this time.

In accord with my invention I interrupt the operation of the motor 61 as soon as one package has been dispensed and leave it in a condition to be reenergized or reenabled as soon as a subsequent coin is deposited. For this purpose, on the extension II5 which is responsive to movement of the flap I02, in turn responsive to the dispensing of a package, I mount a mercury switch III which is eiTect-ive when tipped by the discharge of the package to interrupt the operation of the motor relay 91 so that the motor is disabled and the machine stops. As soon as the package is withdrawn, however, the machine is in condition to cycle again to discharge one additional package for each coin introduced.

In the present size machine some 42 packages are so dispensed and I provide means for shutting down the machine when the last package has been discharged. For that reason on the elevator platform 35 I provide a projection I2I extending between guides I22 upstanding from the framework. Since the elevator platform 35 rises uniforinly throughout the operation of the machine, it rises /-12 of its total travelfor each package dispensed and I consequently arrange matters so that the projection I2I is effective through the final 42d part of the total rise of the elevator platform to disable the mechanism. Consequent- In order that the empty condition may be.

apparent to a prospective user I provide an indicating light I21 for illuminating a legend such 2| and replacing it with a filled one, or by reversing the motor 81 and as the parts go through their reverse operation, individually loading the packages on to the elevator platform 35. When the front door is opened ready access is had to the opening at the upper edge of the wall II and as the pusher l3 retreats cyclically the elevator platform 33 correspondingly lowers so that ultimately the machine is replaced in condi-' tion shown in Figure '7, fully charged, and upon reversal of the motor connections, is ready for the type of operation heretofore described. The motor is preferably provided with 'a reversing switch I36 diagrammatically illustrated-in.Figare 13. When the machine is restored .to filled or partially filled condition, the descent of the elevator platform 35 releases the projection I2I from the arm I23 of the. mercury switch I26,

which recloses by gravity so that the motor 61 can be 'run forwardly, the light I2! is extinguished. the electromagnet BI is deenergized, the coin mechanism is again in condition for operation and the dispensing operations can proceed.

By providing a refrigerated dispenser in accordance with my invention, there is afforded a structure which is cheap and easy to manufac-' ture, one which is quite reliable in commercial operation, one in which service and repair can readily be accomplished in a very short space of time either by changing the effective units of the machine or by recharging them, one in which refrigeration is feasible because of good insulation without substantial loss through the dispensing aperture and one in which a plurality of packages of material can readily be dispensed.

without requiring great accuracy in the packages themselves or'requiring a package of a special character.

I claim:

l. A refrigerated dispenser-comprising an insulated cabinet having a discharge opening, a flap overlying said opening, a door closing said opening, means within said abinet for projectin a package from within said cabinet through said opening to push said flap aside and to actuate said door, means for energizing said projectng means. means controlled by said door for deenergizing said projecting means and means for preventing actuation of said door until said flap is pushed aside.

2. A refrigerated dispenser comprising an insulated cabinet having a. discharge opening, means for closing said opening, a flap overlying said opening to hold said closing means in closed pos tion. means for projecting a package from within said cabinet through said opening for moving said flanout of holding position and to actuate said closing means. means controlled from outside said cabinet for energizing said nro ecting means, and means responsive to the actuation of said closing means for deenergizing sa d projecting means.

3. A refrigerated dispenser comprising a cabinet having a discharge opening, an elevator platform mounted within said cabinet for risin movement toward said opening through a predetermined distance, a projecting means within said cabinet. arranged to advance toward said opening; and means for simultaneously lifting said elevator platform through said predetermined distance and advancing said projecting I I inet having a discharge opening, an elevator platform mounted within'said cabinet for rising movement toward said opening and adapted to support a plurality of horizontal tiers of similar packages, a projecting means mounted within said cabinet for advancing movement to Push a tier of said packages through said aperture, and means for operating said elevator platform and said projecting means in synchronism whereby said projecting means pushes each tier of said packages through said aperture as said elevator platform lifts the height of each one of said plurality of tiers of said packages.

6. A refrigerated dispenser comprising a. cabinet, an elevator platform mounted within said cabinet, means for lifting said platform through a multiple number of distance units, a projecting means mounted within said cabinet to advance through a distance equal to the length of said elevator platform, and means for operating said projecting means to advance through said distance each time said elevator platform is lifted through one of said distance units.

7. A refrigerated dispenser comprising an insulated cabinet having a discharge opening, a hinged flap depending from said cabinet across said opening, a horizontal flap hinged on said cabinet and extending across said opening, means preventing movement of said horizontal flap until said depending flap is moved, means within said cabinet for projecting a package through said opening first to displace said depending fiap and then to displace said horizontal flap, and means responsive to displacement of said horizontal flap for disabling said projectin means.

8. A refrigerated dispenser /comprising an insulated cabinet having a discharge opening, a horizontal flap hinged on said cabinet across said opening and adapted to swing into open position, a projection on said flap adapted to move in a predetermined path as said fla swin s into open position, a depending flap hinged on said cabinet across said Opening at a distance from said horizontal flap and dis osed normally to lie in the path of said projection. means for projecting a package from within said cabinet through said chamber to displace said depending flap out of the path of said rojection and then to displace sa d horizontal flap. and means responsive to displacement of said horizontal.

flap for disabling said projecting means.

JAMES C. REAR. 

